Nitish Kumar hints at grand ‘secular alliance’ against BJP

Patna: Buoyed by his party's victory, with the support of RJD and Congress in the Rajya Sabha bypolls in Bihar, JD(U) leader Nitish Kumar said that this was the start of coming together of "secular forces" against the BJP.

"A start of such a wider golbandi (coming together) against BJP started from Bihar yesterday and this will spread across the country," Kumar said hinting at a possible alliance between the JD(U), RJD, Congress and CPI in next year's Assembly elections in the state.

The coming together of these four parties ensured victory of two JD(U) candidates in the bypolls for two Rajya Sabha seats in the state.

There was, however, no talks of alliance between JD(U), RJD, Congress and CPI for the next year's Assembly polls in Bihar right now but "a beginning of unity of secular forces has started and it will gain pace in future," Kumar said.

Asked whether if he had compromised on his principles by joining hands with long time rival Prasad, Kumar defended his decision and said: "Today the pressing issue is BJP and its growing evil designs which needs to be countered effectively by uniting all secular forces".

He thanked Prasad, Congress, CPI and Independents for supporting JD(U) candidates and said "BJP's evil design to destabilise the Jitan Ram Manjhi government and thrust a mid-term poll in Bihar has been foiled."

He, however, declined to comment anything on whether he would seek help of Mamata Banerjee (TMC), Mulayam SinghYadav (SP), Left besides the RJD, Congress and CPI for putting up a strong front against the Modi government.

Talking on BJP leader and former deputy chief minister Sushil Modi raising Constitutional point alleging that Kumar has 'arbitrarily' selected Manjhi in his place as the new chief minister without ratification from party legislators and demanded parade of MLAs, Kumar said his choice of Manjhi was endorsed by party and MLAs.

"Since there was no scope for the Governor to call somebody else other than Manjhi to form the government he gave him the permission to form government and asked him to prove majority on floor of House which he (Manjhi) achieved," he said.

Nitish flays Modi government for announcing rail hike before budget

Nitish Kumar criticised Narendra Modi government for promoting a "bad tradition" of announcing hike in Railway fare and freight before presentation of Railway budget in Parliament.

"They are promising the country that 'Achye deen aa gaye hain' (good days have come) and promoting bad tradition," Kumar told reporters.

His reaction came in the wake of Narendra Modi government increasing railway passenger fare by 14.2 percent in all classes and freight by 6.5 percent.

Kumar, who served as Railway minister in the NDA government of Atal Bihari Vajpayee, said, "I presented five Railway budget and always followed tradition of announcing roadmap of railway including proposal for increasing fare and freight in Parliament through budget."

"When UPA government in the recent past had announced increase in Railway fare and freight before presentation of Railway budget it was the same BJP which had made hue and cry....Now they are doing the same and promoting a bad tradition," he said, taking a potshots at BJP-led government at the Centre.

Kumar described 14.2 percent hike in fare and 6.5 percent in freight as a "big increase" which he said would further lift prices of essential commodities.